A woman dressed as Russia in a blood-stained outfit and holding a national flag chained herself to a Lenin statue in Novosibirsk to protest deteriorating human rights and increasing poverty in Russia. The large sign attached to the flag said: “I Am Dying.” Three smaller signs hanging off the chain said: “Police,” “Fear” and “Censorship.” August 22, 2017 (Image: Alyona Martynova / Sib.fm)

By Paul Goble

The flood of news stories from a country as large, diverse and strange as the Russian Federation often appears to be is far too large for anyone to keep up with. But there needs to be a way to mark those which can’t be discussed in detail but which are too indicative of broader developments to ignore.

Consequently, Windows on Eurasia each week presents a selection of these other and typically neglected stories at the end of each week. This is the 97th such compilation, and it is again a double issue with 26 from Russia and 13 from Russia’s neighbors. Even then, it is far from complete, but perhaps one or more of these stories will prove of broader interest.

An effort in St. Petersburg to take down illegal ads on streets, an action often violently resisted by those who put them up (paperpaper.ru/illegal-ads).

A woman dressed as Russia in a blood-stained outfit and holding a national flag chained herself to a Lenin statue in Novosibirsk to protest deteriorating human rights and increasing poverty in Russia. The large sign attached to the flag said: “I Am Dying.” Three smaller signs hanging off the chain said: “Police,” “Fear” and “Censorship.” August 22, 2017 (Image: Alyona Martynova / Sib.fm)

16. Putin’s Russia Now So Repressive It is Not Possible to Work and Not Be Violating Law

23. Western Broadcasting in Non-Russian Languages Designed to Provoke Russians, Moscow Commentator Says

According to a Regnum writer, Western broadcasts in non-Russian languages have been intended not just to stir up non-Russian nationalism but to provoke a backlash of Russian nationalism (regnum.ru/news/polit/2311694.html).

Many in the West and in Russia too assumed that capitalism by itself could provide Russians with a new ethical system in place of communism, but that is not the case, according to a Russian commentator. More is needed, and it hasn’t been supplied (chaskor.ru/article/dyrka_ot_etiki_40691).

1. Soldiers from Nine NATO Countries March in Kyiv Military Parade

Even though many are suggesting that it will be a long time if ever before Ukraine becomes a member of the Western alliance, the symbolism of soldiers from nine NATO countries marching in a Kyiv military parade on Ukraine’s national day was lost on no one, encouraging Ukrainians and their supporters and undoubtedly infuriating Vladimir Putin and his entourage (newizv.ru/news/world/24-08-2017/na-parade-v-kieve-proshli-voennye-9-stran-nato).

2. Red Cross Says 2700 Civilians have Died in Donbas Conflict

The International Red Cross says that its research shows that 2700 civilians have died since the beginning of the Russian military intervention in the Donbas region of Ukraine (kasparov.ru/material.php?id=5999382FE7727).

3. Ukrainian Journalist Tells How Much Moscow Pays for Terrorist Acts in Ukraine

4. Ukrainian Monument Should Show Post-Russian Countries

A Ukrainian monument to the resistance Ukrainians have shown to Russian aggression, a sword plunged into a map of the Russian Federation, would be even more powerful if it showed the post-Russian states that country is likely to disintegrate into, according to one Russian analyst (afterimpire.info/2017/08/24/kol/).

5. Minsk Invites Observers from Seven Countries for Zapad Exercise

The Belarusian government has invited observers to come to follow next month’s Zapad-2017 exercise to help ensure that the joint Russian-Belarusian exercise does not lead to more apocalyptic results (charter97.org/ru/news/2017/8/23/260665/).

8. Estonian President Warns Against ‘Self-Occupation’

Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid has warned her countrymen against taking steps that constitute a “self-occupation” and limit the country’s freedom and independence (lenta.ru/news/2017/08/22/kersti/).

10. Iran Paying for Armenian Translation of Koran

11. Tajikistan Teetering on Edge of Bankruptcy

The Tajik government burdened by massive debt and falling revenue is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, creating instability and opening the way for expanded outside influence by Russia and China (centrasia.ru/news.php?st=1503376140).

12. HIV Infections Spreading Along Central Asian Transport Routes

Medical experts have tracked the spread of HIV infections along major transport routing in the Central Asian region, raising concerns there about the expansion of such arteries in the future (caa-network.org/archives/10049).

13. Tashkent to Open Consulate in Kazan

The Uzbekistan government is expanding its network of consulates in Russia to provide support for its gastarbeiters there. Last week, it opened one in Vladivostok; this week, it has announced that it will soon do so in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan in Russia (fergananews.com/news/26771).